For a quick breakfast on pea soup day, choose a plain variety if your main aim is to avoid added sugar and decide for yourself what to add. A variety with extra protein is only suitable if that’s a separate priority for you; if so, check the protein source and allergens too. In either case, compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g: no added sugar doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.
You want warm porridge that takes little preparation, without starting with a sweetened flavour mix. A plain, single-serve pack could suit you if its ingredients and preparation fit your routine. Compare the sugars per 100 g too.
As well as a quick preparation time, you’re specifically looking for a higher protein content. The Quaker Oats Express Protein variety reviewed contains added soya protein; check that the ingredients and allergens suit your needs.
A product name that includes oats isn’t enough to determine whether it’s suitable. According to the Voedingscentrum, people with coeliac disease need to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
For this breakfast, first decide whether the ingredients, preparation time or extra protein will guide your choice. If you’re looking for oats because you have coeliac disease, check for the certification symbol on the packaging before weighing up those other factors.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredients and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; consider anything you add to your breakfast separately. | I want to put together a plain breakfast without using a sweet mix as a base, but I don’t confuse ‘no added sugar’ with sugar-free. This is the main consideration for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the preparation time, method and serving size on the packaging. | When I’m short on time, I want to know whether the preparation method works for what I have available in the morning. This is the first consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Extra protein | Compare protein per 100 g and per serving; also check the source of any added protein. | I only choose a variety with extra protein if I’m specifically looking for that composition and the ingredients suit me. Around 17% of consumers give this priority. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the current allergen information; if you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol. | If I can’t choose just any pack of oats because of coeliac disease or an allergen, suitability comes before convenience or taste. This is the main consideration for around 8% of consumers. |
Porridge with no added sugar can still contain naturally occurring sugars. Milk, fruit and other toppings also change the nutritional value of your prepared breakfast.
Read both the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, then consider what you add to your porridge.
According to the product information, the Quaker Oats Express Protein variety reviewed contains soya protein and soya lecithin; wheat and barley may also be present.
Check the protein source and the latest allergen information before choosing this variety.
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can come into contact with gluten during processing. So the word ‘oats’ alone doesn’t mean a product is suitable for people with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging.
Fine wholegrain porridge oats in a larger pack and instant single-serve sachets don’t necessarily meet the same needs for speed and portioning.
Check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for each product before choosing it as an alternative to instant porridge.
The Oats Express Original and Protein varieties reviewed come in single-serve packs and, according to the product information, take around two minutes to prepare.
Jumbo offers fine wholegrain porridge oats in 500 g and 1 kg packs, among other options. These are a different packaging choice from instant single-serve sachets.
At ALDI, Golden Bridge offers a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain porridge oats for anyone considering a larger pack.
As a retailer, Albert Heijn provides product information for the Quaker Oats Express Protein Original variety reviewed, including its ingredients, allergens and nutritional value.
These products include two quick-to-prepare Quaker varieties, alongside a larger pack of oats for anyone looking for a simple oat base. For the latter, check whether the preparation method suits your morning routine.
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For anyone who wants to prepare plain porridge quickly and decide for themselves what to add.
The product information for this pack states a preparation time of around two minutes. Check the ingredients, sugars and allergens on the current packaging.
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For anyone looking for a quick-to-prepare porridge variety with added protein.
The product information for the Protein variety reviewed states 22 g of protein per 100 g and no added sugar. The ingredients include soya protein and soya lecithin; check the latest allergen information.
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For anyone considering a larger pack of porridge oats rather than an individual instant sachet.
Check the preparation instructions before choosing this product for a quick breakfast. If you have dietary restrictions, check the allergen information on the current packaging; don’t rely solely on a description in the product name or listing.
No. A product with no added sugar can still contain naturally occurring sugars. For the variety you choose, read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table; consider anything you add to your breakfast separately.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then read the ingredients and check the serving size. The Voedingscentrum recommends comparing products on the same 100 g basis. For a variety with extra protein, also check the protein source and allergens.
Not necessarily. According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can come into contact with gluten during processing; if you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
The product information gives instructions for preparing it with around 180 ml of milk: approximately two minutes in a pan or two minutes in an 800 W microwave. Follow the instructions on your own pack for the correct quantities and preparation method.
